We have talked a lot about the best bars of 2025. But sometimes, clubs in END of the leaderboard can help us learn as well.
Our 2025 iron testing revealed what happens when an iron design doesn’t add up in all performance categories. Some of these clubs had prominent strengths such as great distance, exceptional feel or attractive looks, but could not deliver across the board.
These are the irons that suffered the most in 2025.
The worst performing golf irons of 2025
| Category | The Iron Model | The main force | The main weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Of the player | Under 70 669 TC | Strong distance for its category | Limited accuracy, non-compliance and forgiveness |
| PXG 0317CB | Better than average forgiveness for a compact shape | Accuracy and distance lagged behind peers | |
| Player distance | The legend of Ben Hogan | Balanced numbers across all metrics | No featured categories, outstanding results |
| Tour Edge Exotics C725 | Good feeling | No featured categories, outstanding results | |
| Game-Improvement | Deputy Golf VGI02 | Impressive distance potential | Low points of accuracy and forgiveness |
| Maxi XC3 | Reliable forgiveness for a valuable iron | Distance and accuracy fell behind the category leaders | |
| Super Game-Upgrade | COBRA DS-Fits | Excellent distance for its category | Poorer accuracy and consistency of forgiveness |
| Fourteen Golf PC-3 fakes | Calm feeling | Average for each metric |
What can we learn from this?
1. It’s not enough to be average at everything
Some of the irons that finished near the bottom, like the Ben Hogan Legend and Fourteen Golf PC-3, had consistent performance in distance, accuracy and forgiveness, which may look strong but don’t stand out in a test like this. Most leaders excel on multiple metrics. Being “good” in any area often puts an iron at the bottom of the list.
2. Extreme strengths come with compromises
Some models, notably the COBRA DS-Adapt and Vice Golf VGI02, produced excellent distance but poorer distribution and forgiveness. That’s the trade-off with designs that follow ball speed above all else. Find an iron that helps you produce ball speed and distance, but don’t sacrifice accuracy and forgiveness for it. There are options in 2025 that make this possible.
Final thoughts
Test results like these don’t tell you what NO to play; they tell you what to look for when you fit. Maybe you need more launches, maybe your distance gaps disappear with a different axis, or maybe you’ll realize that forgiveness isn’t what’s holding you back. Use the data to narrow down your choices, then test drive to see what really fits you.
Post Bottom of the leaderboard: The irons that suffered the most in 2025 testing appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
